New B

New A

C

C

A

A

B

B

figure 1

B e a d

&

B u t t o n • A p r i l 2 0 0 4

83

Good

question

Can tubular peyote provide form and function?

by Mary Lou Allen

step

by

step

Bead a peyote tube around a
wire core and close the ends.
Create a focal bead dangle
with a fringe tassle and attach
to one end. Add another
dangle to the other end, if
desired. Shape the necklace
into a wearable design.

getting started
If you are new to tubular (or
circular) peyote, take a look
at Basics on page 166. Many
beaders prefer to do this
stitch without anything
inside the tube, but beading
around the wire enables you
to keep your stitches tight,
yet flexible enough to bend.

Electrical wire with black

plastic coating is available at
home improvement centers.
Unlike metal wire, which is
sized in gauges according to
diameter, electrical wire is
given an AWG number. I use

#6AWG wire, which is stiff
enough to hold its shape and
happens to fit perfectly inside
a peyote tube with this bead
count.

Unless you already have

bolt cutters at home, bring
your measurements to the
store and have them cut the
wire for you. The necklace
featuring a Kevin O’Grady
bead (on the left) is 21-in.
(.53m) long without the
dangle. The purple example
on the right, with beads by
Alethia Donathan, is 24-in.
(.61m) long without dangles.

peyote tube

Thread a needle with 2

yd. (1.8m) of Fireline or
Nymo. If you’re using Nymo,
double your thread and
condition it with beeswax or
Thread Heaven.

Leaving a 10-in. (.25m)

tail, string twelve beads in the

following order: two color A
(size 6

0), two color B (size

8

0), two color C (size 80), two

color A, two color B, and two
color C.

Tie these beads in a ring

using a surgeon’s knot (see
“Basics”). Place the ring over
the wire. Keep your thumb
on the tail as you bead the
first few rows so it doesn’t get
woven into the tube.

Start at the knot, and

working from right to left, go
through the first A bead in
the ring. Pick up one A and
go through the first B. Pick
up one B and go through the
first C. Pick up one C and go
through the first A (figure 1).
Continue around until you
come to the first A.

To “step up” to the next

row, go through the first A
on the ring and the A you
added in step 4. Pick up
another A and go through

U

sing a wire armature provides a shapable core support for beadwork and opens up a

whole new realm of possibilities. I love to design with large focal beads and wire

wrapped pendants, but I found that even 20-gauge wire and peyote tubes with size 8

0

beads weren’t substantial enough to successfully highlight the larger pieces. While rummaging

around in the basement, I came across some electrical wire and knew I was on to something.

Using even-count tubular peyote, I beaded a tube around the wire. Once the ends were closed,

I was able to form the wire into a necklace that would hold it’s shape and still remain light and

flexible enough to take on and off without a clasp. Success!

the next B (photo a). You’ll
notice the pattern starting to
spiral. Keep your tension
fairly tight, but not so tight
that the tube won’t bend.
Continue until the the tube
reaches the end of the wire.
Do not cut the thread yet.

making the dangle

Cut a piece of 20-gauge

wire 3-in. (76mm) longer
than the finished length of
your focal bead and spacers.

Make a wrapped loop at

one end (see “Basics”).

String accent beads and a

focal bead as desired. Make a
small wrapped loop at the
top (photo b).

You may wish to make a

second, shorter dangle for
the other end of the necklace.

To make the fringe,

thread a needle with 2 yd. of
thread. Leaving a 7-in. tail,
tie an overhand knot (see
“Basics”) through the bottom
loop of the dangle.

String an assortment of

beads and crystals to the
desired tassle length.

Go through the second to

last bead strung and back
through the rest of the beads
until you exit at the top
fringe bead (figure 2).

Tie an overhand knot but

do not cut the thread. Repeat
steps 6 and 7, always tying a
knot at the loop before
beginning the next fringe.

To finish, tie a final over-

hand knot through the loop
and dot with glue. Go
through several beads on the
nearest fringe and cut the
thread. Repeat with the tail.

finishing the ends

Starting with the step-up

bead, pick up one A and go
through the first C. Pick up
one B and go through the
next B. Pick up one C and go
through the next A (figure
3). The tube will quickly
close. You may need to add a

bead in the center of the
circle to fill the space. When
the end is closed, make a
half-hitch knot and go
through several nearby
beads, exiting at the center
bead. Don’t cut the thread.

To attach the dangle, go

through the top loop several
times and back up through
nearby beads. Tie a half-hitch
knot and go back through the
beads and the dangle loop
again. Go through a few
adjacent beads, tie a half-
hitch knot, and dot with glue.
Weave the tail back in and
cut the thread.

Repeat step 1 to finish

the other end. If you are
using a second dangle, repeat
step 2 to attach it.

Gently shape the necklace

until it conforms to your
neck and body. The shorter
end should start just left of
the center of your throat and
curve around your neck. At
the point slightly to the right

of your throat, bend the piece
in a right angle .

w

Write to Mary Lou at 720 N.
Duluth Avenue, Sturgeon Bay,
Wisconsin 54235 or email her at
[e-mail].

Be sure to see Kevin O’Grady
and Alethia Donathan at the
Bead&Button show.

84

b e a d a n d bu t t o n . c o m

materials

• large focal bead (Kevin O’Grady,

kevinogrady.com, 480-874-
9642; Alethia Donathan, DACS
Beads, see ad p. 25)

• 60g seed beads, size 6

0

(color A)

• 60g seed beads, size 8

0

(color B)

• 60g seed beads, size 8

0

(color C)

• assortment of glass and silver

beads for fringe and dangle

• Fireline fishing line, 6lb. test or

Nymo D beading thread

• beading needles, #10 or 12
• #6AWG coated electrical wire
• 20-gauge sterling or craft wire
Tools: round- and chainose
pliers, wire cutters

a

b

adding thread
Don’t wait until you
are out of thread to add
more. When you get
down to your last 7 in.
(.18m), go back
through several beads,
make a couple of half-
hitch knots (see
“Basics”) and cut the
thread. Rethread the
needle with 2 yd. of
new thread and tie a
couple of half-hitches
near the beads where
you tied off. Go
through several beads.
Exit the same bead
where you left off and
continue from there.

New A

New B

New C

C

C

C

C

A

A

A

A

B

B

B

B

figure 3

figure 2

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